Steering wheel



(3. w. BECK STEERING WHEEL Filed Dec 13 1 a W W 2 M 8 6 M, m

M V I Aug. 6, 19 29.

Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. BECK, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO BECK-FROST CORPORATION, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

srnnnrns WHEEL.

Application filed. December 13, 1826. Serial No. 154,562.

This invention relates generally to steering wheels for motor vehicles,boats and the like and consist-s of certain novel features ofconstruction combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims. a

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a steering wheel embodying myinvention. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through theconstruction shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top plan view of aslightlymodified form of construction.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the construction shown inFigure 3. Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of another modifiedform.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the construction shown inFigure 5.

Referring now to the drawing, 1 is a spider and 2 is a hub of a steeringwheel embodying my invention. As shown, the spider is preferably formedof wood and is provided with the central opening 3 and a plurality ofradially extending arms 4. The hub 2 is preferably formed of a pluralityof sections 5, 6' and 7 respectively and has two of said sections,preferably the inner sections 5 and 7 mounted within the opening 3 inthe spider. To provide a strong and durable construction which can beeasily and quickly assembled and taken apart, the section 7 is tubularin form and tits snugly against the inner wallsfiof the opening 3.Preferably this section is provided with in ternal threads 8 and isprovided at its upper end with a lateral flange 9 that rests upon theupper face of the wood spider. The section 5 may be termed an insert andis preferably an iron casting. As shown, this section is provided withthe vertical opening 10 for receiving the stem of asteering column andis provided at its upper end with the external threads 11 that areengaged by the threads 8 of the section 7 when the parts are assembled.This section 5 is'also provided immediately below the threads 11 with anannular shoulder 12 that constitutes a seat for the lower end of thesection 7, and is provided below thisshoulder with a series .of radiallyextending projections 13 which are spaced slightly below'the lower faceof the wood spider. The outer section 6 is preferably an aluminum diecasting and is preferably shrinked upon the iron insert 5. To provide anefficient construction, this section 6 extends below the lower end ofthe insert 5 and has a central opening 14 for receiving the upper end ofthe steering column (not shown). Preferably this section 6 has theshoulder 15 that engages the lower end of the insert 5 and is providedat its upper end with the inwardly extending lateral flanges 16 whichrest upon the projection 13 and substantially fill the space betweensaid projections 13 and the lower face of the wood spider. movementbetween this section 6 and the spider, suitable prongs 17 are providedupon the flanges 16 for engagement with the wood spider, while suitableprojections 18 are provided at the upper end of said section 6 at pointslocated between the flanges 16 for engagement with suitable openings 19in the spider.

If desired, the outer section 6 may be formed of rubber, in whichinstance the projections 18 would be dispensed with entirely and machinescrews similar to those shown in Figures 5 and 6 would be used toconnect the flange 9 tothe insert 5.

In Figures 3 and 1 I haveshown a slightly modified form of construction,in which the insert 20 is preferably an iron casting which correspondsto the insert 5 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the upper section 21threadedly engages the upper ,end of this insert 20 and is provided withan outwardly extending lat eral flange 22 that rests upon the upper faceof the wood spider 23. With this construction, the outer lower section24 is shrinked upon the insert 20 and cooperates with the flange 22 tohold the spider 23. This insert 20 also preferably provided below thethreads 25 with the annular shoulder 26 which corresponds to theshoulder, 12 and forms a To prevent relative V seat for the lower end ofthe section 21.

This insert 20 also has the radially extending projections 27 whichcorrespond to the projections 13, while the outer section 24 is providedat the upper end with the upstanding projections 28 which correspond tothe projections 18 and engage suitable recesses 29 in the wood spider.

If desired the outer section 24 may be formed of rubber, in whichinstance the projections 28 would be dispensed with entirely and machinescrews similar to those shown in Figures 5 and 6 would then be used tosecure the flange 22 to the insert 20.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown another modification in which the insert30 is preferably an iron casting and is connected to 24 respectively andis provided at its upper end with an inturned annular flange 37 whichseats upon a suitable shoulder 38 of the metal insert 30 and fills thespace between said shoulder and the lower face of the wood spider 34.

Thus, from the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that Ihave provided a strong and durable wheel of the built-up type that isneat in appearance,

comparatively light in weight, and inexpensive to manufacture. Due tothe adjustable connections between the top and insert sections of thewheel, the parts of the hub may be quickly assembled with the spider,thereby effecting a saving in time and labor in constructing saidwheels.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature andadvantage of my invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have itunderstood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown anddescribed and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination, a spider having an opening therein, and a hub havinga cast metal insert in said opening, a cover for said insert having aflange constituting a seat for the spider, and a top section detachablysecured to said insert and holding said spider upon the flange aforesaidof said covering.

2. In combination, a spider, and a hub formed of a plurality ofsections, one of said sections having an opening for receiving a stem ofa steering column, another of said sections being secured to said firstmentioned section below said spider, and another of said sectionsthreadedly engaging the first section and having a portion above thespider and clamping the latter againstthe second section.

3. In combination, a spider, and a hub formed of a plurality ofsections, one of said sections being a casing and having an opening forreceiving a stem of a steering column, another of said sections being acasting and secured to said first mentioned section below said spider,another of said sections being formed of sheet metal and having aportion above the spider, and a threaded connection between the last andfirst mentioned sections permitting the spider to be clamped betweenportions of the last and second mentioned sections,

4:. In combination, a spider having an. opening therein, and a hubformed of a plurality of sections, one of said sections' openingtherein, and a hub formed of a' plurality of sections, one of saidsections being a casting and having a portion disposed within theopening in the spider, another of said sections being formed of anothermaterial and constituting an exterior finish for the first mentionedsection below said spider, and another of said sections being secured tothe portion aforesaid of the first mentioned section in said opening andhaving a lateral flange clamping the spider against the second mentionedsection.

6. In a steering wheel, a hub formed of a plurality of sections, two ofsaid sections having portions thereof spaced vertically from each other,another of said sections being permanently and rigidly secured to one ofthe sections aforesaid and threadedly engaging the other of saidsections, said last mentioned section having an opening therein forreceiving a stem of a steering column, and a spider having an openingreceiving a portion of the last mentioned section and having portionsclamped between the first two mentioned sections.

7. In combination, a spider having an opening therein, and a hub formedof a plurality of sections, one of said sections having a portionreceived in the opening in said spider and having radially extendingprojections below said spider, and a covering for said section havinginwardly extending flanges resting upon said radially extendingprojections and constituting seats for the lower face of said spider,and another of said sections being securedto the portion aforesaid ofsaid first mentioned section and having a portion overlapping the upperface of said spider and holding the latter upon the inwardly extendingflanges of the second mentioned section.

8. In combination, a spider having an opening therein, and a hub formedof a plurality of sections, one of said sections having a portionlocated within the opening in the spider and having a portion projectingradially therefrom below said spider, another of said sectionsconstituting a covering for the first mentioned section below saidspider and having an inwardly extending flange disposed upon saidradially extending projection and constituting a seat for the lower faceof said spider, and another of said sections having a portionoverlapping the upper face of said spider and detachably secured to thefirst mentioned section so that said spider is securely clamped betweensaid last and second mentioned sections.

9. In combination, a spider having an opening therein, and a hubv havinga metal insert in said opening, a cover for said insert having a lateralflange constituting a seat for said spider, and a top section having atubular port-ion detachably secured to said insert and having a lateralflange holding said spider upon the lateral flange aforesaid.

10. In combination, a spider having an opening therein, and a hub formedof a plurality of sections, one of said sections having a portiondisposed within said opening and having a bore adapted to receive asteering stem, another of said sections being secured to the firstmentioned section and having a lateral flange constituting a seat forsaid spider, and another of said sections having a portion also disposedwithin the opening in said spider and detachably secured to said firstmentioned section, and

having a lateral flange holding the spider upon the flange aforesaid ofthe second mentioned section.

11. In combination, a spider having an opening therein, and a hub formedof a plurality of sections, one of said sections having a portiondisposed within and projecting below said opening, another of saidsections being secured to the lower projecting portion of the firstsection and having a lateral flange constituting a seat for the spider,and another of said sections being detachably secured to the firstmentioned section and having a lateral flange holding the spider uponthe flange aforesaid ofthe second mentioned sect-ion.

12. In combination, a spider having an opening therein, and a hub formedof a plurality of sections, one of said sections having a portiondisposed within said opening and having another portion overlying saidspider, another of said sections being secured to the underlying portionof the first mentioned section and having laterally extending portionsrespectively constituting seats for the first mentioned section and saidspider, and another of said sections being detachably secured to thefirst mentioned section and having a laterally extending portionoverlapping and clamping a spider upon. one of the laterally extendingportions aforesaid of the second mentioned sections.

13. In combination, a wheel spider, a hub secured in said Spider andhaving a portion underlying said spider, and a covering of differentmaterial for said hub cast upon said underlying portion and having aportion serving as a seat for said spider.

14. In combination, a wheel spider, a hub secured thereto having anopening therein for receiving a shaft member, and a covering ofdifferent material for said hub cast thereon and having a dependingportion provided with an opening for receiving a portion of a steeringcolumn.

15. In combination, a wheel spider, and a hub having sections bodilymovable relative to each other and clamping said spider, and a coveringof different material cast upon one of said sections and having meansfor surrounding a portion of a steering column.

16. In combination, a wheel spider, a hub having sections threadedlyengaging each other in said spider and having radially extendingprojections disposing respectively above and below said spider, and acovering of different material for one of said sections cast uponcertain of said radially extending projections.

17 In combination, a wheel spider, and a hub having two sectionsdetachably connected together and provided with lateral flanges disposedabove and below said spider, and a covering of different material castupon the flange of one of said sections and constituting a seat for thelower face of said spider.

18. In combination, a spider, and a hub formed of a plurality ofsections, one of said sections extending through the spider and havingan opening for receiving a stem of a steering column, another of saidsections bein cast upon the first mentioned section and having a lateralprojecting por tion below said spider, another of said sections having alateral extending portion di posed above said spider, and a connect-ionbetween the last and first mentioned sec-- tions permitting the spiderto be clamped between the laterally extending portions aforesaid of thelastand second mentioned sections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES IV. BECK.

